British Columbia Expands PNP With 1,000 Extra Nomination Spaces

British Columbia has received 1,000 additional provincial nomination spaces for 2026, allowing the province to select more immigration candidates in health care, education, childcare, veterinary care, construction, and high-impact occupations.

The increase brings the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program’s 2026 allocation to 6,254 nominations. The province announced the additional spaces on August 18, making B.C. the third jurisdiction this year, after Alberta and the Northwest Territories, to receive a larger allocation from Ottawa.

Care Occupations Remain a Priority

Under its “care” objective, the BCPNP is prioritizing 36 occupations across health care, education, childcare, and veterinary services.

Eligible roles include physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, physiotherapists, social workers, medical technologists, early childhood educators, certain French-speaking teachers, veterinarians, and other regulated care professionals.

Candidates generally need a current full-time job or job offer in an eligible occupation. Some jobs carry additional requirements.

Early childhood educators must hold an eligible B.C. certificate. French-speaking teachers must work in the province’s K-12 system and have at least CLB 5 French, while nurse aides must be registered with the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry.

B.C. has invited at least 946 candidates under the care objective so far in 2026.

Construction Trades Get Targeted Invitations

The province’s “build” objective focuses on nine construction trades, including carpenters, electricians, plumbers, welders, heavy-duty equipment mechanics, industrial mechanics, HVAC mechanics, pipefitters, and sprinkler system installers.

Candidates need a current job or job offer in an eligible trade and at least two years of full-time equivalent work experience.

So far this year, B.C. has invited 572 trades professionals under the initiative.

Higher Earners and Top-Scoring Candidates Prioritized

The “innovate” objective covers skilled workers and entrepreneurs across sectors. B.C. uses High Economic Impact invitation rounds to select candidates based on either wages and TEER 0–3 employment or their registration score.

In the July 16 round, candidates needed either a wage of at least $58 per hour, about $115,000 annually, or a registration score of 132 or higher.

The province has issued 2,658 High Economic Impact invitations in 2026.

How Candidates Reach Permanent Residence

Applicants must qualify for a BCPNP stream, submit an expression of interest, receive an invitation, file a complete nomination application, obtain a provincial nomination, and then apply federally for permanent residence.

As of August 6, B.C. had issued at least 4,324 invitations to apply this year. The province says it plans to use its full 6,254 allocation by year-end, with at least 35% expected to go to candidates working outside Metro Vancouver.

B.C. also continues its Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative, introduced in April. The pathway can nominate up to 250 cleaners and security workers employed by B.C. health authorities in rural or remote communities. So far, 60 invitations have been issued.

The 2026 allocation is higher than B.C.’s final 2025 total. B.C. began selecting candidates under these priorities in May and later extended the rural health initiative’s registration deadline.